Klopp hails Germany’s progress after Greece stalemate despite missing pieces
Germany were held to a 0‑0 draw by Greece in Thessaloniki on Sunday evening, yet Jürgen Klopp emerged from the match convinced his national side had taken a significant step forward. He praised an excellent first half, a disallowed Jonathan Burkardt chance and the overall quality on display.
First‑half dominance
Germany dominated large stretches of the contest, particularly during an excellent first half in which they created numerous opportunities. Jonathan Burkardt saw a potential opening goal ruled out, while captain Florian Wirtz delivered an "outstanding" performance that set the tone. Derry Scherhant, the Freiburg winger, also impressed, emerging as one of the understated winners of the half.
The German side kept the ball for roughly 70 percent of the time and pressed aggressively without the ball, a pattern that Klopp has long championed. Their counter‑pressing worked "outstandingly 90 percent of the time", according to the coach, and the fluid movement left Greece chasing shadows for most of the opening 45 minutes.
Second‑half slip and missed chances
From the 60th minute onward the Germans became a little more unsettled, and the clear patterns of the first half faded. The team generated 21 shots in total but failed to convert any, a fact that Klopp refused to let dominate his assessment.
Despite the high work rate, the lack of a breakthrough was evident as Greece held firm. Klopp noted that the lads put in an "incredible amount of work" but the defensive commitment, while impressive, could not hide the missed opportunities.
Klopp’s assessment and way forward
Speaking to RTL, Klopp said: "Plenty is missing, but certainly not talent." He added that he was "more surprised than disappointed" and that the defensive cohesion shown would be the foundation for future expression with the ball.
The coach highlighted that his experimental XXL squad of 44 German footballers was designed to expose a broader pool before reverting to a conventional‑size group in November. The draw leaves Germany three points behind both Greece and the Netherlands in their Nations League group, but Klopp remains convinced the raw talent is present and that the team can continue to improve.